23 MERINO 200 BEYOND THE BALE It was to England that pioneer Australian wool producers sent their first export clip 200 years ago, so it was only fitting that London be the scene of Merino 200 commemorations. AWI organised a series of displays featuring Australian Merino wool across London with key trade partners including Savile Row to coincide with the launch of the 'Fleece to Fashion' Exhibition held at Old Billingsgate in London in September and October as part of the ongoing celebrations to commemorate 200 years of the Australian wool trade. The exhibition showcased an array of garments containing Australian Merino wool dating back to 1810, when the first bale arrived on British shores for commercial sale, through to the present day. Outfits include a classic 1950s Dior day dress, a beautiful Chanel wool dress from the 1980s, Julien MacDonald's red carpet cobweb dress, Tom Ford's dinner suit, and Mick and Bianca Jagger's bespoke white evening suits created by Savile Row tailors. The exhibition has something for everyone involved London celebrates wool's history and future The 200th anniversary of the Australian wool trade is celebrated by Savile Row's tailoring houses and with a Driza-Bone display in the window of Harrods in the fashion trade and AWI has been hosting a series of workshops for brands and retailers, designers, manufacturers and university students, as well as media. The workshops elaborate on the latest innovations from AWI which continue to capitalise on the natural benefits of Merino wool, including Aqua Merino's cooling benefit, an anti-odour Merino and the use of nanotechnology to develop anti-moth and anti-bacterial benefits for the fibre. Participants have also been presented with the latest Merino wool trends in colour and yarn, consumer insights from AWI research and mega trends from a leading independent trend expert. Savile Row Bespoke tailors came together for the first time with 'Merino 200' window displays recognising the important role Australian Merino wool has played in the history of bespoke tailoring, dating back as far as the early 1800s when the trade of wool was first established between Australia and the UK. Windows of bespoke tailors including Anderson and Sheppard, Anthony J. Hewitt, Davies and Sons, Dege and Savile Row Savile Row Bespoke, the body that represents the key bespoke tailoring houses of the Row, has been established to protect and develop the art of bespoke tailoring on Savile Row.The group was established in 2004. www.savilerowbespoke.com Driza-Bone® Driza-Bone® -- best known for its iconic Australian coat, recently immortalised at the Sydney APEC summit -- has re-launched a range of outdoor and performance next-to-skin garments produced in the finest Australian Merino wool.This complete collection of outerwear, clothing, and accessories used for both active and leisure outdoor activities will now be sold globally. www.drizaboneactiv.com 200 years of Merino is celebrated in London by the Savile Row Bespoke clothing makers with special window displays. Skinner, Gieves and Hawkes, H. Huntsman and Sons, Henry Poole and Co., Norton and Sons, and Richard Anderson carried the 'Merino 200' logo, as well as displays of fabrics containing Australian Merino from traditional Savile Row suppliers. AWI collaborated with Driza-Bone® to create a window display in the iconic Harrods store in London, forming part of UK launch plans for the new Driza-Bone® Activ range of high-performance garments made from Australian Merino wool. "We are thrilled to be working with Savile Row and Driza-Bone® on the window displays and are looking forward to developing strong and lasting business relationships," says Rob Langtry, AWI's general manager of marketing. "These projects build on the activities we have already created to celebrate 200 years of the Australian wool industry. It is also great to see the likes of Savile Row tailors who have acknowledged and are epitomising the value of luxury garments which Australian Merino can offer." ú More information: www.merinoinnovation.com